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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Windows 8 Developer Preview Hacks

How to: Remove watermark (build 8102)1. Download Modified shell32.dll.mui2. Now go to C:\Windows\system32\en-us\ and locate shell32.dll.mui3. Take ownership of file shell32.dll.mui and rename to shell_org32.dll.mui4. Now place modified shell32.dll.mui in System32 folder and close it.5. Open elevated command prompt ( Start Menu->Accessories-> right click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator).6. Now type mcbuilder and wait for approximately 20 seconds7. Now reboot your Windows 8 for changes to take effect.

How to take simple take ownership

1. Download Take OwnerShip.zip file2. Open above downloaded zip and file and extract its contents on desktop3. Now double click on InstallTakeOwnership.reg to install Take Ownership option in context menu

1. Download a hex editor. I chose HxD (http://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/)2. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\3. In the Ribbon click File > Open Command Prompt > Open Command Promt as Administrator4. Type the following in CMD;takeown /f uxtheme.dllicacls uxtheme.dll /grant Administrators:F5. Copy uxtheme.dll to the deskop.6. Open your hex editor and open uxtheme.dll7. Go to the hex location as shown in 'Metro Customization - Hex Table.txt' by hitting Ctrl+G (Might be different in your program)8. Make sure your hex editor is set to OVERWRITE and NOT insert.9. Replace the colors as shown in 'Metro Customization - Hex Table.txt' with your own. The format is Red, Green, Blue, Alpha (RGBA). For a solid/opaque image leave the last byte as FF (example: FF0000FF would be solid red)10. Save.11. In system32 rename uxtheme.dll to uxtheme.dll.old12. Place copy the uxtheme.dll from your desktop to system32.13. Reboot.

Windows 8 may not have been released yet, but there is the developer preview version available for free download by anyone who has an interest in the upcoming version of Microsoft’s operating system. No version of Windows would be complete without a selection of tweaking tools to enable users to stamp their mark on the software, and Metro UI Tweaker for Windows 8 is one of a small but increasing number of such utilities that are starting to creep out.

This is a fairly basic and limited program, but as the name would suggest, it has been designed only with the aim of allowing for tweaks to the Metro user interface. Despite the fairly limited number of options available, Metro UI Tweaker for Windows 8 includes a number of settings that are likely to be of interest to any early adopter.

If you have failed to fall in love with the Metro interface and ribbon toolbars that are to be found throughout Windows 8, this handy tool enables you to disable them altogether. While for many people, these features are the reason to install Windows 8 in the first place, for others they are merely eye candy.

The Start menu can also be tweaked by adding options such as Log Off, Sleep and Shut Down, or by adding links to any programs that you use on a regular basis. While these settings could be put in place by tinkering with system files or the registry, but turning to this tweaking tool eliminates the need for this.